49+ Basement flooring Ideas and Best pictures

BASEMENT FLOORING – Everyone wants to make the most of their home’s square footage, and enhancing your basement’s potential as viable living space is an excellent way to do just that. To make your basement the space of your dreams, you’ll need to start at the bottom.

Choosing the right flooring has different rules in a basement than it does in other rooms; if you make the wrong selection, it could be potentially disastrous. That’s why we’ve laid the groundwork to give you the best basement flooring ideas for your home.

Basement flooring Ideas and Best pictures

There are many more options available for suitable flooring in your below-ground space than in years past. Note: When you begin shopping around, you’ll notice the term “below grade.” Don’t let this concern you; it simply means that the material is meant for underground or basement installation.

Keep an eye out for this term as you weigh your flooring options. Manufacturers are well aware that consumers want products that are stylish and durable, innovative and eco-friendly, and the basement flooring market is no exception.

1. Basement Flooring Ideas

Source: thespruce.com

Basement flooring does not play by the normal rules of flooring. Even when the weather is dry, basement flooring can leach residual moisture in the form of vapor due to its close proximity to the ground. In deluges, basements can be the scene of up-to-your-ankles flooding that we all fear and which keeps the insurance companies in business.

Vinyl flooring–also known as resilient flooring–ranks up with concrete and ceramic tile as one of the better basement flooring ideas out there. But keep in mind that vinyl flooring comes in both tile and sheet form, and there is a subtle difference.

3. Basement Flooring Ideas: Luxury Vinyl Tile (Stone)

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Luxury vinyl tile (LVT), manufacturers claim, is not “conventional.” That’s because it looks just like real stone, both in appearance and in texture. Tile manufacturers even set up separate categories in their company literature to drive home the idea that LVT is different–and better. Better, of course, so that more money can be charged for LVT.

4. Basement Flooring Ideas: Luxury Vinyl Plank (Wood)

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It would seem that wood-look luxury vinyl flooring is just the exact corollary to the previously-mentioned stone-look LVT. Not so. For one reason, wood-look luxury vinyl comes in planks around 6″ x 48″–a completely different look than stone look’s typical 16″ x 16″ squares. For another reason, it looks more like the substance it is trying to copy than stone-look LVT.

5. Basement Flooring Ideas: Wood-Look Porcelain Tile in Planks

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Wood-look tile is about as good as it gets. It’s impervious to moisture. It looks surprisingly like wood (though in an attractive faux-surreal way). And it carries enormous cachet.

6. Basement Flooring Ideas: Concrete

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The first, and most obvious, of all the basement flooring ideas is simply concrete. You’ve already got the concrete slab, so now you need to fix cracks and either paint or seal it.

7. Basement Flooring Ideas: Tile

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Of all the basement flooring ideas, tile represents the best of all worlds. It qualifies as a finished surface (meaning that it is not a raw surface, like concrete), yet this is a finished surface which stands up to water. Tile can be installed directly on your concrete slab. Worried about cold basement floors? Then it’s no problem to lay down radiant heating coils under the tile.

8. Basement Flooring Ideas: Conventional Laminate

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Laminate flooring has, in recent years, become one of the better basement flooring ideas in your range of options. One reason for this is the introduction of the so-called waterproof laminate, going under brand names such as Mannington iCore. But even conventional laminate flooring in the basement can be made to work with the installation of a proper sub-floor system.

9. Basement Flooring Ideas: Waterproof Laminate

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Waterproof laminate has no wood content, thus it will not swell and distend. It’s still a product in search of a buying audience. But if you’re really in the market for the “wood look” with zero moisture problems, this is it.

10. Basement Flooring Ideas: Wall to Wall Carpet

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Carpet is often vilified as the worst flooring material in bathrooms. Does this mean that carpet is also a bad basement flooring idea?

11. Basement Flooring Idea: Carpet Squares

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When we say carpet squares, you might be thinking of those nasty indoor-outdoor squares that have been carpeting basement “dens” and “rec rooms” for decades.

12. Basement Flooring Ideas: Engineered Wood Flooring

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When we get into the organic materials–as opposed to materials like vinyl flooring–the question of basement flooring ideas gets more interesting. Because, as we all know, wood is derived from trees, it does not stand up well to moisture. Thus, solid hardwood is not a great type of flooring for basements.

13. Basement Flooring Ideas: Cork

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Cork is the floor trend du jour. I think the main reason is because it’s mostly a natural product, derived from cork trees.

14. Basement Flooring Ideas: Rubber

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Rubber flooring is commonly associated with gyms, garages, dance or martial arts studios, and pools. But what about basements?

15. Engineered Wood

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Engineered wood is a thin veneer of solid wood that is attached to a plywood core. Style choices in this department are vast, and the long-lasting, easy-to-clean, easy-to-install options have many opting for this fabricated flooring.

16. Laminate

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Similar to engineered wood, laminate flooring consists of a plastic resin veneer attached to a plywood core. Laminate can be deceiving, as many samples resemble real wood, ceramic tile or stone, making it desirable for those on a tighter budget who still want the upscale look of natural materials.

17. Ceramic Tile

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Tile remains a popular basement flooring choice thanks to its durability and vast style options. In addition to the broad range of natural patterns available, ceramic tile is touted for its water-repellent nature, but it can get slippery if condensation occurs, so consider an anti-slip finish.

18. Vinyl Tile

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For the DIYer or those on a budget, vinyl tile is a great choice. The tiles come in numerous patterns and colors to fit every decor, and self-stick options allow for easy installation and replacement.

19. Cork

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Popularity of this soft, breathable, eco-friendly material is on the rise. Cork is naturally resistant to bacteria and water, making it an ideal choice for damp basements.

20. Linoleum

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If you desire durability on a budget, linoleum may be the choice for you. Available in many rich colors and patterns, this flooring is long-lasting, naturally antibacterial and easy to maintain. Plus, it’s eco-friendly (made from linseed oil) and resistant to mold and moisture. It costs $1-$5 per square foot, and installation is an additional $3-$4 per square foot.

21. Carpet

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The idea of carpet in a basement may make some people cringe, but its warmth and wide variety of styles and budget options still make it a popular basement flooring option. While some worry about carpets’ susceptibility to moisture, moisture-resistant pads are available, and many synthetic below-grade carpets offer mold and mildew resistance.

22. Concrete

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Concrete flooring is trending right now, partly because of its minimalist style but also because of its low price point. Surprisingly, concrete offers a variety of options, from acrylic paint to stain to epoxy coating.

23. Kitchen

Source: hgtv.com

Wood flooring and tile are popular choices for the kitchen, which may be affected by liquids hitting the floor during cooking, but Tom Jennings, technical adviser and former chairman of the World Floor Covering Association, recommends cork for those who cook a lot. “Cork has a similar finish to laminate but has resiliency, which matters if you’re going to be on your feet a lot,” he says.

24. Basement and Below Grade

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Before installing any flooring option, make sure there are no moisture issues with the concrete slab. If there are, laminate and wood wouldn’t be good choices, because they tend to absorb water.

25. Media Room

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When watching television and movies or listening to music, the acoustics of a room are a factor. You don’t want to disturb others in adjoining rooms, and at the same time you want to enjoy hearing what you’re listening to. Carpet and cork are good choices where acoustics count. Avoid hardwood.

26. Bathroom

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Water splashed from the tub or shower and the high humidity in this room require flooring that won’t be affected by moisture. Laminates and hardwood floors, which absorb moisture, aren’t recommended, but ceramic tile is a good choice. And if you use natural stone or marble, seal them with a protective coating.

27. Living Room

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The flooring options for living rooms are many and should match the style of the house. Hardwood is timeless, and slate, terra cotta and carpet are also good choices.

28. Library or Study

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A study or reading room should exude a sense of elegance and formal serenity. Wood floors in dark, rich colors help make that statement. If you’re on a budget, laminate is an affordable alternative to the real thing.

29. Guest Bedroom

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While carpet is a popular choice for the bedroom, wood flooring, whether hardwood, engineered or laminate, can be a great alternative for a guest bedroom if you’re looking to add style.

30. Dining Room

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In most cases, the dining room is attached to the kitchen, so it makes sense to simply extend the flooring from one room to the next, whether you choose wood flooring, tile or cork.

31. Bedroom

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The most private room in the house is still the domain of carpet, which dampens sound and feels softer underfoot than other floor coverings. “Carpet is textile for the floor,” Jennings says. “The construction of the fiber itself dictates how it performs underfoot.

32. Entryway

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Any type of floor covering will work in this area, since most people wipe their feet off on a mat before entering the house. “If it’s a high-traffic house with several kids and pets, I’d be more concerned with scratching (the flooring) than moisture,” Jennings says. “Hardwood’s still a good look for many homes, as well as ceramic tiles.”